World Space Week (WSW) is an important international event celebrated since 1999, according to a United Nations (UN) resolution. The week long celebrations held from October 4 to 10 of every year, commemorate two milestones in Space exploration; 4th October marking the launch of the first man-made satellite, Sputnik-1 in 1957 and 10th October marking the day on which the UN declaration for peaceful uses of outer Space came into force in 1967. The celebrations are coordinated by UN with the support of Space Week International Association and local coordinators in various countries, based on a theme declared by UN, every year. The WSW event organisers are encouraged to explore, develop and apply this theme in all the programmes conducted throughout the week. It fosters international cooperation in Space outreach and education, focusing on the contributions to the betterment of mankind.

In Kerala, World Space Week is celebrated every year under the auspices of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), and ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), Thiruvananthapuram, since 2001. During WSW, events and educational programmes with special focus on Space are organised within and outside VSSC, based on the theme declared by UN.